Report on the completion of long-lead components procurement of new sodium materials test loop
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
This report provides an update on the completion of long-lead components procurement of new sodium materials test loop. The loop, designated as SMT-3, is a forced-convection sodium loop to be used for the evaluation of sodium compatibility of advanced Alloy 709 with emphasis on long term exposures of tensile, creep, fatigue, creep fatigue, and fracture toughness ASTM-size specimens in support of ASME Code qualification and NRC licensing. The report is a deliverable (Level 4) in FY18 (M4NT-18AN050503013), under the Work Package NT-18AN05050301, “A709 Sodium Compatibility” performed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), as part of the Advanced Materials Program for the Advanced Reactor Technology. This work package enables the development of advanced structural materials by providing corrosion, microstructure, and mechanical property data from the standpoint of sodium compatibility of advanced structural alloys. The first sodium loop (SMT-1) with a single tank was constructed in 2011 at ANL and has been in operation for exposure of subsize sheet specimens of advanced alloys at a single temperature. The second sodium loop with dual tanks (SMT-2) was constructed in 2013 and has been in operation for the exposure of subsize sheet specimens of advanced alloys at two different temperatures. The current loop (SMT-3) has been designed to incorporate sufficient chamber capacity to expose a large number of ASTM-size specimens to evaluate the sodium effects on tensile, creep, fatigue, creep-fatigue, and fracture toughness properties, in support of ASME Code Qualification and USNRC Licensing. Three major long lead items were identified: 1) Selection and approval of location for the new loop and installation of the necessary infrastructure, such as transformer, power supply panels, and wiring, that is adequate for the long term operation of the loop, 2) Perform a detailed piping analysis that meets the ANL QA and Safety guidelines as well as complying with ASME Code requirements, and 3) Design and fabrication of the specimen exposure vessels that are capable of at least 42 tensile, creep, and fatigue specimens in each vessel and is compliant and compatible with ASME Code and the piping design analysis. The SMT-3 loop will be located in Building 206 adjacent to the currently operating SMT-2 loop. In addition, we have removed the aged power supply system in Building 206 and installed a new transformer, wiring, and power panels for the new loop. The preliminary loop design was sent to an outside vendor for a detailed piping analysis, to ensure compliance with the ASME Code guidelines. The piping design was completed in FY2017. The construction of components such as cold trap, economizers, piping arrangement etc. will be performed in the central shops at ANL. About 150 liters of sodium for the loop will be procured in early FY2018. The loop system is designed to circulate sodium through the sample tanks and he associated loop without an operator for an extended period of time. With the three sodium loops (i.e., single-tank, dual-tank and four–tank), materials can be tested at different sodium temperatures, and large tensile, creep, fatigue, creep-fatigue, and fracture toughness specimens can be exposed to sodium for extended periods of time and generate data on mechanical properties in support of ASME Code Qualification and USNRC Licensing of advanced Alloy 709 for use as a structural material in SFRs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Reactor Technologies (NE-7). Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1485131
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-ART-136; 148863; TRN: US1902705
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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